Adjustable hanging sports equipment holder and dispenser

ABSTRACT

An adjustable Hanging Sports Equipment holder, to be utilized for the home, retail display and in gymnasiums, can be advantageously hung from a wall or a ceiling by a hanging device. Formed from a durable yet formable material, comprising of a plurality of openings on the body of the apparatus to insert and retain sports equipment. The said invention exhibits the ability to be shortened and lengthened according to the user&#39;s desire and available hanging space. The elongated tubular embodiment advantageously allows multiple sports balls to be stored and retrieved by utilizing the top and bottom elasticized openings as the sports equipment is inserted into the adjustable hanging apparatus. A preferred embodiment includes a means for supporting basketballs, soccer balls and the like, also a means for an air pump holder as well as one or more pockets for storage of ball needles, valves and pins.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

-   -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,550     -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,794

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sporting equipment can create an undesirable mess if not kept neatly organized. The task of organizing sports equipment in ones home can be a very challenging one. At home, a closet is often used to store basketballs or footballs. Consequently, the contents of the closet becomes a hazard as the basketball, football and other contents spill out of the closet when the door is opened. An adjustable elevated device for storing sports balls, whether at home, or in your garage, would serve to prevent tripping or related accidents as well as provide a more organized and efficient manner of storage.

In an effort to address the need for a more efficient storage of sports related balls, particularly, a number of equipment racks have been developed. These inventions focus on support devices in which the sports equipment is placed on the rack. The device is then dependent on gravity to keep the balls in place; if the ball or device is jarred the ball easily falls off. These inventions do not provide a secure holding device for a ball.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,550 describes a storage rack with threaded pegs. It includes a compact base with two or more pairs of peg holes and two or more pegs that may be inserted into a second pair of holes. While this invention provides a means for storing various items, it does not address the need for storing basketballs, footballs and the like.

Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,794 describes a sports equipment rack. The invention includes both a fixed frame and a removable basket, which provides support for equipment of a variety of sports. The fixed frame includes bat retainers for supporting a plurality of bats and parallel guide members for removable supporting balls such as basketballs, soccer balls, etc. The device is cumbersome and uses too much space unnecessarily.

The present invention relates to devices for holding sports equipment and keeping them organized while utilizing little or unused space. Specifically, the present invention relates to an adjustable/collapsible hanging yet portable device for keeping basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, and kickball equipment neatly stored and readily available when needed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to an adjustable apparatus for holding sports related equipment for a home or retail usage while hanging from a ceiling or a wall. The object of the invention is to provide adequate and assessable storage for sports equipment while allowing the user to maintain current floor space. The adjustable holder and dispenser is unique in its utility due to the ability it has to adjust to the users current space while not taking up premium floor space.

The said apparatus can be created by the method of sewing, in its form and embodiment. The adjustable sports holder comprises of a tubular embodiment that can be hung from a hanging device from a ceiling or wall. The elongated body is formed of a flexible material. The front of the invention is equipped with an opening for obtaining and inserting sports equipment. The bottom most end of the said invention is formed of a singular piece of flexible material, which may be independent of the upper embodiment material, utilizing a circular opening with material elastic lining that retains the sports equipment when inserted into the upper opening.

The user expands the elastic opening when dispensing sports equipment and allows the elastic to contract again when the user wants the apparatus to retain the sports equipment currently held. The said invention also provides means to accommodate holding multiple sports paraphernalia like ball pins and an air pump.

Utilizing one or more flexible elongated member such as string/cord attached onto the bottom most of the tubular embodiment material, the said cords line along the body, to the top of the apparatus to be utilized as a pulley type instrument to allow the collapsible material to be adjusted in size. The said flexible member can be attached to the outside body by multiple means of fastening devices to secure the collapsed holder in its adjusted state.

The adjustable holder is portable and lightweight in design, allowing the user to move the apparatus when desired. The adjustable holder can be used inside and outside of the home. The device can easily fit and adjust into a corner of a bedroom, closet, garage, or laundry room.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is the front side perspective view holding ball of the adjustable hanging sports equipment holder and dispenser.

FIG. 2 is the backside perspective view holding ball of the adjustable hanging sports equipment holder and dispenser.

FIG. 3 is the front side view of the adjustable hanging sports equipment holder and dispenser in partially collapsed state.

FIG. 4 is the front side view of the adjustable hanging sports equipment holder and dispenser in fully collapsed state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new and advantageous device for storing athletic equipment in your home especially the equipment associated with the game of basketball, soccer, football and kickball.

Referring to the various figures and in particular FIG. 1, set forth is the Adjustable Hanging Sports Equipment Holder, for the storage and retention of sports equipment 18.

The said invention provides one or more circular rings 6 made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or metal, inserted into the ring are one or more separate flexible elongated members such as a rope 8 mirrored in length. Attached to the end of the said flexible material is at least one or more hooking device 4. The said hook device is then attached to the end of the stated flexible material and each hook device is inserted into the eyelet openings 28 embedded into the top border material 20. Inserted into the uppermost and bottom most region of the border material of the said invention are a plurality of circular hoops 30, made of a smooth plastic such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a metal such as brass, aluminum, or iron. The said hoops would assist the embodied material in giving it its cylindrical or tubular structured shape.

The elongated tubular embodiment of the said invention is formed from a formable flexible material such as mesh or netting 14.

Located in the front of the apparatus, a circular opening 12 is formed and fitted with the said-flexible border material 4. The opening is utilized for the insertion and obtaining of sports equipment.

The sports holder is equipped to adjust in length utilizing one or more flexible member materials 2. The flexible material 2 is lined upward along the tubular body of the apparatus, and inserted through the upper circular ring 6 and back downward attaching to the tubular body. As the user pulls downward on the flexible member material 2, attached to the bottommost end of the apparatus, the embodiment material 14 draws upward and reduces the apparatus in size, creating a shorter ball holder.

Referring to the various figures and in particular FIG. 2 set forth is the rear view of the Adjustable Hanging Sports Equipment Holder. The rear of the invention is outfitted with a vertical opening utilizing various forms of fasteners 22 either the length of the tubular embodiment or shorter. The upper rear portion of the said invention is outfitted with an elongated piece of the stated border material 26 attached onto the upper portion of the apparatus border to accommodate air-pumping device.

Attached onto the body of the invention is a pocket 24 of a formable flexible material, utilized to house small sporting paraphernalia.

The bottom open end of the said invention is formed of a singular piece of flexible material 14 or may be independent of the upper embodiment material. An elongated elastic material 10 is attached to the bottom of the flexible material 14 to form a circular opening. This elasticized opening 10 allows the user to obtain said sports equipment when expanded, and said elastic opening also retains sports equipment when contracted.

Referring to FIG. 3 is the front side view of the adjustable hanging sports equipment holder and dispenser in partially collapsed state with sport ball 18 inside.

Referring to FIG. 4 is the front side view of the adjustable hanging sports equipment holder and dispenser in fully collapsed state holding sport ball 18. 

1. a formable hanging device for dispensing multiple sports balls comprising of an elongated cylindrical collapsible shell, a plurality of openings including top, bottom and sides also comprising of a means for accommodating an inflation pump.
 2. a device for dispensing balls according to claim 1 where the openings further comprise of a side opening.
 3. a device for dispensing balls according to claim 1 where the openings further comprise of a bottom opening.
 4. a device for dispensing balls according to claim 1 where the opening further comprise of a means for an inflation pump
 5. a formable hanging device for dispensing multiple sports balls according to claim 1 comprising of an elongated cylindrical collapsible shell, a plurality of openings including top, bottom and sides also comprising of a means for accommodating an inflation pump.
 6. a collapsible hanging elongated cylindrical dispenser further comprising of at least one circular wire frame unit covered by a flexible covering, containing a flexible material made from a non-mesh material, comprising of a formable pocket for holding inflation devices.
 7. a collapsible hanging elongated cylindrical dispenser according to claim 6 further comprising of at least one circular wire frame unit.
 8. a collapsible hanging elongated cylindrical dispenser according to claim 6 further comprising of a flexible material made of cloth.
 9. a collapsible hanging elongated cylindrical dispenser according to claim 6 further comprising of a flexible material made of plastic.
 10. a collapsible hanging elongated cylindrical dispenser according to claim 6 further comprising of a pocket for holding inflation devices.
 11. a collapsible hanging elongated cylindrical dispenser according to claim 6 comprising of at least one circular wire frame unit covered by a flexible covering, containing a flexible material made from a non-mesh material, comprising of a formable pocket for holding inflation devices.
 12. a device for dispensing balls according to claim 3 wherein at least one opening of the sport holding device is outfitted with an elasticized opening utilized for the removal and retention of sports balls.
 13. an adjustable, collapsible cylindrical sports dispensing device consisting of at least one frame unit opening, including a top, bottom, and rear, wherein the top frame comprising of a means for hanging the apparatus from at least one hanging device, attached to the upper portion of the cylindrical body, also a bottom frame comprising of a means for adjusting the length of the dispenser.
 14. an adjustable cylindrical dispenser device according to claim 13 wherein the means of adjusting comprises of at least one or more flexible elongated members attached to the bottom frame.
 15. an adjustable cylindrical dispenser device according to claim 13 wherein the flexible elongated member is lined vertically along the body of the sports holder, inserted through a pulley or loop device and lined downward of the apparatus embodiment material.
 16. an adjustable cylindrical dispenser device according to claim 13 wherein the flexible elongated member can be lined downward of the apparatus embodiment material and secured by means of one or more fastening devices.
 17. an adjustable elongated cylindrical sports holder according to claim 13 comprises of a means for hanging the said apparatus utilizing at least one or more hanging devices.
 18. an adjustable elongated cylindrical sports holder according to claim 13 wherein the rear opening utilizing at least one or more fasteners at least one third the length or more of the tubular embodiment.
 19. an adjustable collapsible cylindrical sports dispensing device according to claim 13 consisting of at least one frame unit opening, including a top, bottom, and rear, wherein the top frame comprising of a means for hanging the apparatus from at least one hanging device, attached to the upper portion of the cylindrical body, also a bottom frame comprising of a means for adjusting the length of the dispenser.
 20. a collapsible hanging elongated cylindrical dispenser according to claim 6 further comprising of at least one circular wire frame unit. 